Chase, Holder boost West Indies
Bridgetown (Barbados), May 1: Roston Chase’s second Test hundred and fine support from captain Jason Holder in a record unbroken partnership lifted the West Indies to 286/6 at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Kensington Oval in on Sunday.
Called upon to repair yet another debacle at the top of the order after Holder chose to bat first, Chase’s unbeaten 131 was characterised by calm assurance and elegant strokeplay after he came to the crease at 37/3.
Even if he lived a bit dangerously, the skipper also played positively and will resume on the second day alongside Chase on 58, their partnership so far worth 132 runs and establishing a new record for the seventh wicket in Tests for the West Indies against Pakistan.
Chase has so far faced 207
SCORECARD West Indies: K. Brathwaite c Sarfraz b Amir 9, K. Powell lbw b Amir 38, S. Hetmyer c Azhar b Abbas 1, S. Hope c Sarfraz b Yasir 5, R. Chase batting 131, V. Singh c Younis b Abbas 3, S. Dowrich c Younis b Shadab 29, J. Holder batting 58. Extras: (b4, lb6, w2) 12. Total: (for 6 wkts, in 89 overs) 286 FoW: 1-12, 2-13, 3-37, 4102, 5-107, 6-154 Bowling: Amir 22-4-52-2, Abbas 18-4-47-2, Yasir 25-2-83- 1, Shadab 23-390-1, Azhar 1-0-4-0
deliveries in five hours at the crease, stroking 17 fours while Holder’s innings has occupied 125 deliveries over three-and-a-half hours with eight fours decorating his knock. On a surface offering very little assistance to the faster bowlers, the Caribbean team still managed to slip to 154/6 in midafternoon and at that stage it looked as if the tourists would have been well into their reply by the end of the day.
Opening bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas claimed a wicket apiece in each of the first two sessions while Shadab Khan, selected for a Test debut in support of senior leg-spinner Yasir Shah, earned his first success in the shape of Shane Dowrich after Shah had accounted for Shai Hope.
“There was very little assistance from this pitch and we will have to come back even harder on the second morning to break this partnership,” said Abbas, who had figures of 2/47 off 18 overs.